John ernest kennedy



. (No Model.) J. E. KENNEDY.

SHOE SOLE.

No. 588,768. Patented Aug. 24, 1897.

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edge. of leather, welt, or insole in any approved UNITED STATES JOHN ERNEST KENNEDY,

SHOE- OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

SOLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,768, dated August 24, 1897.

Application filed October 30, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ERNEsT KENNEDY, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at the city and district of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Soles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to shoe-soles; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a shoe provided with a sole according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the corrugated middle sole.

A is the shoe-upper, which is secured to a strip of leather, insole, or welt ct in any approved manner. Y

B is a layer of thin flexible material, such as canvas, coated or impregnated with indiarubber, and E is the middle sole, secured on the upper side of the layer of canvas B, which forms a projecting flange 1) around its outer This flange b is secured to the strip manner.

0 is the outer sole, which may be of leather, india-rubber, felt, or other approved material. The outer sole C is secured underthe canvas layer B in any approved manner. The heel C is also formed and secured in position in any approved manner. t

D is a perforated insole secured above the middle sole inside the shoe. This insole may be made of leather, felt, cotton, or other approved material.

The middle sole E is formed of in'dia-rubber and is corrugated alternately 011 each side in such a manner as to render it collapsible. The

corrugations e of the middle sole are arranged crosswise, and c are small holes connecting the upper and lower corrugations.

E is a central longitudinal channel connecting the corrugations on each side of the sole with a space f in front of the heel portion,

and E is another channel around the heel Serial No. 610,538. (No model.)

portion and connecting the corrugations of such heel portion of the sole with said space f. The space f does not require to have corrugations, as there is little pressure at this point.

F is an air-tube connected to the space f or lower interior of shoe and extending up the side of the shoe to theoutor air.

When the foot descends in the act of walking, the middle sole collapses under the pressure of the foot and the air is forced out of the corrugations 6 up the tube. When the foot is raised, the elasticity of the middle sole restores the corrugations to their original positions and draws air from the exterior of the shoe into the corrugations. In this manner a constant circulation of air is established through the middle sole. This circulation of air keeps the shoe thoroughly ventilated and adds greatly to the health and comfort of the wearer. V

If desired, the air-tube may be dispensed with and the corrugations of the middle sole may be connected with the outer air in any other approved manner.

The collapsible sole also acts as a-cushion, preventing jar to the frame in walking and giving more room to the foot when stepping upon, as the foot then sinks into the space previously occupied by the insole. This relieves the strain on the leather across ball of foot and permits'the foot to expand naturally without increasing the exterior width ofthe shoe.

VVha-t I claim isr l. A collapsible middle sole provided with corrugations 6 arranged alternately on opposite sides of it, holes 6' connecting the upper and lower corrugations, and a longitudinal channel E, substantially as set forth.

2. A collapsible middle sole provided with corrugations e across its sole and heel, a space f on its under side between its sole and heel, and a longitudinal channel E connecting the corrugations of the sole with the said space, said corrugations being arranged alternately on opposite sides of it and connected by small holes substantially as set forth.

3. A collapsible middle sole provided with corrugations 6 arranged across its sole and heel, a space f on its under side between its In testimony whereof I affix my signature sole and heel, a longitudinal channel E conin presence of two Witnesses.

neoting the corrugations of the sole with the space f and a curved channel connectin the T T v T T corrugations of the heel with the space the JOHL ER} EST BEL} ED1 5 said corrugations being arranged alternately \Vitnesses:

F. O. LABERGE,

on opposite sides of it and connected by small holes 6, substantially as set forth. I

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